Systems and methods for electric vehicle powertrain thermal management and control

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a powertrain thermal management system for managing thermal loads in the powertrain of an electric vehicle. The system may comprise a first coolant flow path comprising a flow split valve upstream of a first DC-DC converter, a second coolant flow path comprising a first electric motor, a third coolant flow path comprising a second electric motor, a bypass valve positioned downstream of the first DC-DC converter, the first electric motor, and the second electric motor, and a radiator positioned one of directly upstream or directly downstream of the bypass valve. The first coolant flow path, the second coolant flow path, and the third coolant flow path are fluidly connected in parallel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle powertrain thermal management system, comprising:
 a first coolant flow path comprising a flow split valve upstream of a first DC-DC converter;   a second coolant flow path comprising a first electric motor;   a third coolant flow path comprising a second electric motor;   a bypass valve positioned downstream of the first DC-DC converter, the first electric motor, and the second electric motor; and   a radiator positioned one of directly upstream or directly downstream of the bypass valve,   wherein the first coolant flow path, the second coolant flow path, and the third coolant flow path are fluidly connected in parallel.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle powertrain thermal management system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump upstream of the first coolant flow path, the second coolant flow path, and the third coolant flow path. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle powertrain thermal management system of  claim 1 , wherein the flow split valve is a two-way valve capable of regulating a coolant flow to the first DC-DC converter. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle powertrain thermal management system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second DC-DC converter downstream of the first DC-DC converter and a third DC-DC converter downstream of the second DC-DC converter. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle powertrain thermal management system of  claim 1 , wherein the bypass valve is a three-way valve configured to direct a coolant to the radiator or bypass the radiator. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle powertrain thermal management system of  claim 1 , wherein the first coolant flow path further comprises an air compressor and a brake resistor controller. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle powertrain thermal management system of  claim 6 , wherein the brake resistor controller is directly upstream of the flow split valve. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle powertrain thermal management system of  claim 1 , wherein the second coolant flow path further comprises a first inverter directly upstream of the first electric motor. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle powertrain thermal management system of  claim 8 , wherein the third coolant flow path further comprises a second inverter directly upstream of the second electric motor. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle powertrain thermal management system of  claim 5 , wherein the bypass valve is directly upstream of the radiator. 
     
     
         11 . A vehicle powertrain thermal management system, comprising:
 a first coolant flow path comprising an air compressor and a brake resistor controller;   a second coolant flow path comprising a first inverter;   a third coolant flow path comprising a second inverter;   a bypass valve positioned downstream of the air compressor, the brake resistor controller, the first inverter, and the second inverter; and   a radiator positioned one of directly upstream or directly downstream of the bypass valve,   wherein the first coolant flow path, the second coolant flow path, and the third coolant flow path are fluidly connected in parallel.   
     
     
         12 . The vehicle powertrain thermal management system of  claim 11 , further comprising a pump directly upstream of the first coolant flow path, the second coolant flow path, and the third coolant flow path. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle powertrain thermal management system of  claim 11 , wherein the bypass valve is a three-way valve configured to direct a coolant to the radiator or bypass the radiator. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle powertrain thermal management system of  claim 13 , wherein the bypass valve is directly upstream of the radiator. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle powertrain thermal management system of  claim 11 , further comprising a first DC-DC converter. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle powertrain thermal management system of  claim 15 , wherein the first DC-DC converter is included in the first coolant flow path. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle powertrain thermal management system of  claim 16 , wherein the first DC-DC converter is downstream of the brake resistor controller. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle powertrain thermal management system of  claim 11 , further comprising a flow split valve. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle powertrain thermal management system of  claim 18 , wherein the flow split valve is a two-way valve capable of regulating a coolant flow. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle powertrain thermal management system of  claim 11 , further comprising a first electric motor downstream of the first inverter and a second electric motor downstream of the second inverter.